(one of many methods of memorizing Surah Al-Aadiyat for S)"I don't want to go to summer school," said S, frowning.
"You've been stuck with me the rest of the year. You NEED to go to summer school. I NEED you to go to summer school," I replied.
Summer is my only reprieve, my superficial vacation, my fake salvation, my tie to sanity.
"It's too babyish!" N protested.
I totally feel her. Last year we had sent them to the summer program at the masjid. S and N were way above kids their age in reciting, memorisation and writing Arabic. S qualified inclusion in a group of teenage girls, but she apparently refused to be with the big girls, according to her teacher. It wasn't until later on that I found that out, when she complained about being bored.
Understandably, S won 'best student' at the end of the program. This was last year.
The year before, there was a different program at the masjid. N was too young then, so S attended the program without her sister. The program was handled by a different set of people. Each student was given a book containing Juz 'Amma. S had to memorize one surah every day. Since she had already memorized the short surahs, they assigned her the longer ones.
I balked at her homework. How was she supposed to memorize Surah Al-Aadiyat in one day? I wrote a note to the teacher, asking for shorter portions for memorization because S ended up crying trying to do her 'homework'. For the record, I almost ended up crying too.
It was a tough yet rewarding summer program for S. It was challenging enough for her.
The year before, I enrolled S and N (who wasn't too young for that particular program) in a summer program run by the local Islamic school. For the whole six weeks, they memorized Surah As-Shams. Hubby scoffed at the comparison of that summer and the next (the tough one).
I wonder what program is going to be available this coming summer. Whatever it is, the point is to throw the kids into the midst of other kids their own age. I don't particularly approve the language and mannerism of the other kids, as I've had the opportunity of listening to them converse. However, I can't shelter the kids forever. With the nurturing at home, it will be a practice ground for them before they go into the world at full force. This year, I hope H will be old enough to enroll. Otherwise, I'll be stuck at home with his never ending chatter.
4 comments:
the pop up maps are very nice! might try it some days...
i hope they will find a great summer camp this yr :-) you can haf ur rest, and can come up with great new ideas...
Assalamu'alaikum.
Saya blog hopped from kak teh's. And I am glad I did, because I had been harboring to home school my kids dari dulu, tapi kurang tahu di mana nak cari info. Now I could read about ur experience, instead! Thank you sangat sangat
elsa, oohh yes, yes...rest i need so much. We'll all be reading this summer anyway, as is usually the case hehe
Marlinda,
Welcome! nice to have you here. your baby tia so cute. tembamnyeeee :D my experience is but a measly amount, but insyaallah you can benefit from some links I've put up to other homeschooling mamas. I share what I can, but I have a lot more to learn :) enjoy!
nadia...i'm always so in awe of the way your children is brought up, esp when it comes to agama matters. that's what scares me the most when i think of amir's future. will he be a good muslim, will he be able to remember Allah's teachings in this current climate when religious hatred is so open. takut nya Ya Allah. i hope i am half as good as you are when it comes to this, insyaallah
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